Mullen



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

R. B. .MULLEN, LOCK FOR STOP COOKS.

No. 595.886, Patented Dec. 21-, 1897.

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- UNTTE STATES ATENT- Trice.

ROBERT E. MULLEN, OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO F. .T. OROWE, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCK FOR STOP-COCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,886, dated December 21, 1897. Application filed April 13, 1897. Serial No. 631,903. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known. that 1, ROBERT B. MULLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma, in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looks for Stop-Cocks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

This invention relates to looks, the same being especially designed for use upon the stop-cocks of water-service and other pipes.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for protecting water companies against consumers who turn on water after the same has been shut off by the com- 'pany for non-payment of rent or other reason,

thus saving the trouble and expense of turning off the water at the main, as is usual in such cases.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel features and details of construction,as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

v the drawings.

diate the ends of the flanges 5, so that as the.

sections are rocked together at their upper ends they are correspondingly rocked apart at their lower ends, andvice versa. The complete box or casing thus formed is substantially rectangular in cross-section. Each of the sections is provided with hooks or projections 7, of substantially semicircular shape, two of such projections or hooks beinglocated on each section of the box and beingspaced apart, so as to embrace the service-pipe 1 upon opposite sides of the stop-cock 2, the projections or hooks 7 of both sections embracing the service-pipe from opposite sides and serving to prevent the removal of the box or casing from the pipe. When the box or casing 3 is in position on the pipe, the handle or head of the stop-cock is inclosed within said box and access thereto is prevented.

8 designates a lock-case which is wedgeshaped in cross-section or provided with inwardly-converging sides 9. At its upper end the lock-case 8 is provided with a cap-plate 10, which projects beyond the sides 9 of the lock case, so as to rest upon the top edges of both sections of the box 3. By reason of the wedge shape of the lock-case 8 as the latter is inserted into the end of the box 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it serves to spread apart the outer ends of the sections of the box and to correspondingly force the hooks or projections 7 into engagement with the servicepipe. A keyhole 11 is formed in the cap-plate 10 to receive a suitable key 12, wherewith to operate the locking mechanism which is located within the case 8, and which comprises one or more bolts 13, which project through openings in the lock-case, so as to engage sockets or recesses 14 in the inner surfaces of the box-sections. The bolts 13 are preferably beveled at their outer ends, so as to facilitate the introduction of the lock-case into the box 3, and said bolts are also preferably actuated by means of suitable springs, which tend to force the bolts outward into engagement with the sockets in the box 3 upon the insertion of the lock-case into'said-box; By inserting the key 12 through the hole 11 the locking mechanism may be operated for withdrawing the bolts 13 from engagement with the box 3, thus allowing the wedge-shaped case to be removed, and, asa result, permitting the box to be removed from the servicepipe for giving access to the stop-cock.

In applying the locking device to a servicepipe it is only necessary to spread apart the hooks or projections 7, slip the same over the service-pipe on opposite sides of the stopcock and insert the Wedge-shaped lock-case into the outer end of the box 3 and push the same inward until the spring-actuated bolts engage With the sockets, whereupon the device is securely looked upon the service-pipe and access prevented to the stop-cock. The device is extremely simple and economical in construction, may be manufactured very compactly, and a number of these locks may be carried conveniently in the pocket. This obviates the necessity of sending a special man to each house to shut 01f the Water in the mainand thus eifects a saving in time and expense to a water company.

It Will be apparent that an y lockin g mechanism may be employed in connection with the device and that the several parts of the device. are susceptible of changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to ithout departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

It will be noted that upon removing the wedge-shaped lock-case the stop-cock may be turned off or on, and by reinsertiug the lockcase the cock will be held locked in the position in which itis left, so that it cannot be tampered with by unauthorized persons.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for locking stop-cocks, consist.- ing of a casing comprising opposing sections pivotally connected and adapted to embrace a stop-cock, and a Wedge removably inserted between said sections, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A device for locking stop-cocks, consisting of a box comprising opposing sections pivotally connected for adapting said sections to embrace a stop-cock, a wedge for insertion between the sections of the box, and means for retaining said Wedge in place.

3. A device for locking stop-cocks, consisting of a sectional and folding box adapted to embrace a stop-cock, a Wedge fitted movably between the sections of the box, and means for locking said Wedge in place, substantially as described.

4. A device for locking stop-cocks, consisting of a box embodying pivoted sections, said sections being provided with hooks for engaging around a service-pipe adjacent to a stop-cock, and a Wedge carrying locking mechanism and adapted to be removably inserted between the sections of the box, substantially as described.

5. A device for locking stop-cocks, consisting of a box comprising opposing sections pivotally connected together and adapted to be placed over a stop-cock, said locking-case being provided with an interiorly-arranged socket, a lock-case of Wedge shape adapted for insertion between the sections of the box, and a bolt mounted in said lock-case and adapted to engage the socket in the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ROBERT E. MULLEN.

Vitnesses:

' WILLIAM A. STERNBERG,

V. S. BURT. 

